Many proponents of mental health awareness have cautioned that social media usage directly contributes to depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. Still, there’s a lot of uneasiness when the topic of mental health and social media is brought up, especially when it revolves around adolescents.
Many teens between 12 and 18 use social media. Whether they’re scrolling, posting, or interacting with others, these online platforms can harm their mental health. A recent study has found that teens who spend more than three hours a day on social networking websites have a much higher likelihood of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety.
Teen depression started to rise around 2010 when smartphones and technology became more prominent.
There are many benefits of social media, though. Being socially connected can ease tension, nervousness, and depression while increasing self-worth, delivering convenience, stopping loneliness, and adding more adventure. Today, we depend on social media like Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok to find friends and socialize. While each platform has its benefits, it’s essential to recognize that social media can never supersede real human connection. And that’s something that helps prevent depression and anxiety, improving mental health.
But there’s a lot of good to social media, so let’s start with that.
These platforms allow individuals to connect with people they might not be able to. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer the same psychological support as everyday contact, helping you maintain your well-being.
However, social media has many disadvantages, too.
Since it’s a relatively new technology, we need more research to show the long-term effects of social media usage, whether good or bad. As it stands right now, many adverse effects of these online networks have already been proven.
For example, regular social media usage can lead to lower self-confidence. Even if you understand that Instagram and TikTok show a skewed version of reality, it can make you feel unsure about how you look or how far you’ve come in your life. Also, most people show a perfected version of their lives online and rarely share the low moments.
Seeing content like that can trigger jealousy and resentment, particularly when you’re scrolling through a friend’s “fake” vacation photos or reading about their brand-new announcement.
In addition, fear of missing out (FOMO) can make you dread opening the websites’ apps. Watching other people live the life you think you want can make you feel bad about yourself without doing anything to change it. Maybe you’re nervous you’ll be left out of the conversation. Or perhaps you sense that your relationships will change if you don’t live similar lives as your friends.
Many of us use social media as a “security veil.” Whenever we’re in social status and feel nervous, uncomfortable, or lonely, we depend on our phones and log on to our accounts. But, interacting with them robs you of the face-to-face exchange crucial to mental well-being.
It’s important to ask yourself what drives your social media use.
Most of us access these websites via smartphones, laptops, and tablets. We often log in to these apps while on the go, during work breaks, or when bored. While doing this can help us pass the time, it can also make us waste it. This can trigger stimulation management issues, bothering your rest and causing you to be a slave to your technology.
Everyone is different — there’s no question about that. And no exact time spent on social media means your usage damages your health. Instead, it has to do with the way you use these websites and how you approach it.
So, remind yourself and others that social media is not a true reflection of people’s lives. We should all celebrate our unique journeys and avoid comparing ourselves to others. Remember, people only post what they want others to see. So, keep that in mind the next time you feel like judging yourself for not having the same life as strangers on the internet do.
Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash
